Kris named the conversation “Peep, Mini Candy Cane, and the Best Claus”
Conversation Name Locked
YOU CAN LOCK IT??
KRIS
OPEN IT BACK UP
KRIS
Tell us what you and Hex talked about.
IRIS
ooooo i see how you brought it back around like that kris, bravo, bravo, he only responds to blackmail
you guys suck
me and my perfectly adequate candy cane are going to bed
Chapter Six
You weren’t the one who initiated it.
I fall out of bed at dawn the next morning, barely having slept, and yank on a hoodie Kris gave me last year—it has two Christmas bulbs on it and the wordsI’ve Got Balls.But it’s a damn comfortable hoodie and I have a deep-seated need to be as cozy as possible right now.
You weren’t the one who initiated it.
I traipse out of my bedroom, hood up, hands in the pockets, barefoot and still in my red flannel pajama pants.
He’d kissed me.
He’dkissedme.In my drunken, messy state.
You weren’t the one who initiated it.
I slump down to the kitchen. Grab a tray. Load it up with two massive stacks of cinnamon roll pancakes—nothing beats our kitchen this time of year,nothing—and a giant carafe of fresh pour-over coffee and a pitcher of oat milk.
“Renee,” I call across the kitchen to the head chef, who is overseeing meal prep for lunch already. “I love you and your staff more than I love Kris.”
She pops her head up with a bright smile. The people around her look my way too, pausing their chopping and writing notes, a few waving, all of them with amused smirks that match hers.
“Thank you, Prince Nicholas,” Renee says. She glances at my tray and sighs. “Why am I not surprised that you have two servings of carbs and sugar, but no fruits or vegetables?”
“This isn’t all for me—”
She points to the breakfast spread I’ve turned away from. “At least get fruit. Or I will be forced to resume pureeing spinach into the pancakes.”
I pivot and grab a bowl of sliced melon, but my shoulders go stiff.
“I’m sorry.” I twist back around to her. “Did you sayresumepureeing spinach into the pancakes?”
Renee shakes her head at how one of her staff is slicing carrots, only half paying attention to me. “Yes, of course.”
“Of course?”
“It was the only way to get either of you boys to eat vegetables when you were younger.” She looks at me again, head cocking. “Did you never wonder why your pancakes were green?”
